St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-04
THE FIRST BLOW.
Continued From First Page.

eeps within the limits of the la w, she
will be interfered with" :.
Mrs. Parsons rested a few minutes,
and then resumed her tramp through
the streets, disposing of an immense
number of the pamphlets, and slowing
the nickles away in shot bag, which
she carried. Among the visitors at the
jail at the morning hours, was agentle-
man from San Antonio, Tex, who
called to see A. r. Parsons. The meet
| ing between them was most cordial
| The visitor and Parsons had been fel-
low officers in the Texas legislature.
Parsons at one time lived in San An
tonic, and was very anxious to know OF
his visitor if all his old friends had for
saken him since he had gotten into
trouble. When assured that none OF
them had forgotten him, but
Sympathized Deeply
with him in the present affection. Par
sons eyes became moist with tears and
he trembled with visible emotion. II
have brought you remembrance OF
your old home, : said the Texan, and at
VIC odluC CAlloSIh5 AiOAhA ~~AS
! pocketbook two badges, the first being
a narrow piece of white silk ribbon, on
which was printed the words 'Texas
| Delega tion," and the other piece OF
deep blue ribbon about an inch and a
half wide by five inches long, on which
| was printed the words "TexaS and
Freedom" When Parsons received
them through the iron grating he
pressed them to his bosom and said,
"Good bless Texas, and you, my good
friend, for bringing these remem-
| branceS to me-"
"The white badge" said the Texan,
sis the badge worn by Mayor Byan
| Gallagher, of San Antonio, Texas, to
the Dallas Prohibition convention
held on the 18th of May last.
The Blue Badge
was my own delegate badge on the
same occasion. You have my deepest
sympathy in your afflictiOn." continued
the Texan.
81 thank you sincerely" replied Par
sons. "There isn't a liberty-loving man
on the American soil to-day whose face
does not flush with shame when he
thinks of the decisions of the various
courts of justice in cOndemning me and
my comrades to death. In was an out
rage upon the manhood of America.
shame and disgrace to civilized world.
l have done nothing for which any man
of honor should feel ashamed. l have
offended against no laws of my country.
| am condemned to death for exercising
the privileges of an American citizen,
for exercising Stree Speech" as guaran-
tees to every citizen of the United States
by the federal constitution"
evil you not allow your friends to
plead for executive clemency?'
"Why should my friends beg for
mercy? have J. g
Committed No Crime.
If were to ask executive clemency
that would be as much as saying that l
am guilty of the charge for which am
to pay the death penalty. have no APP
peal to make to the governor, for am
| not guilty, as charged. The decisions
of the higher court show that the COM
mon wage earners need expect no
mercy at their hands. When Justice
cannot be melted out where justice is
due, then there is no hope for mercy
| from those who are the mere tools of
the capitalist who are crying for my
blood and the blood of my comrades.
| Texas and freedOmi Oh, what cheer
| ing words to man in my position.
Would that all my friends in the Lone
Star state could realize the present con-
| dition of him who was once one of their
| honored citizens. If the question of
| this judicial murder were placed to a
popular vote of the American people to-
| day nine-tenths of them would say, do
no murder Oh those men. They are
The True Friends
| of labor. The sincere friends of equal
rights to all men regardless of wealth.
Yes. the sentence will be executed, and
| will die upon the scOffOld an innocent
man. Future generations will not
Judge me and my comrades as murder
ers, nor do the American people of to-
day think we deserve the extreme pen
atty of the law"
Again, pressing the badges to his
heart, Parsons said: "TeXas and free
| dom will follow me to the scaffOld.
Good bye, dear friend; we may never
| meet again." and with this he protruded
his finger through the iron grating, and
with his eyes filled with tears, he parted
| from the friend to whom he had so
frankly conversed for about half an
hour. He was much affected whenever
the names of any of his old Texas
| friends were mentioned, and particu-
| larly cautioned his visitors to say good
| bye to all who remembered him.
Cook county may thank her corpo-
rate stars that her Jail is natural
| fortress. If you will count the windows
in the building bounded by Michigan,
| Illinois, Dearborn streets. and the alley
west of the high brick inclOsure, you
| will find hundrens Of
Peep-Hoies for Observation
| and defense. I understand it is Chief
Ebersold's intention, on the day of exc
cution. to STATEN two policemen in each
| window. armed with rifles. This force
| above would constitute an army, and,
protected as they would be from direct
attack, they couldrepulse force of four
| times their numerical strength. The
architect who designed that jail was in
spired. It's veritable frowning fort
ress, and should armed occupants begin
to pour leaden bullets the execution
would be bloody indeed. The alley
nearest Clark street is in plain view of
fifty windows commanding also por-
ton of the Jail yard. The yard proper
can be covered from nearly 100 windows.
Before an attacking party could get
within fifty feet of the Jail they would
be obliged to batter down solid walls of
masonry, north, south, east ana west.
| ShouId they attpmDt